Plans for Lidl store on outskirts of Tenby revised and under review

Proposals for a new Lidl store on the outskirts of Tenby are still in the pipeline, with amended plans now sitting with the Local Authority.

The plans were put on hold last year, following a ‘call-in’ to the Welsh Government for the application.

The initial application was lodged with Pembrokeshire County Council a year ago by Lidl GB Ltd, through agent CarneySweeney, seeking permission for a new 1,969sqm store on land at Park House Court, Narberth Road, New Hedges/Tenby, to the north of the Park Court Nursing Home.

If a request for an application to be called in is given the go-ahead, then it would have meant that the Welsh Government would take over the decision-making power from the local planning authority.

However, that doesn’t appear to be the case with this proposal, as a response given to County Councillor for Tenby’s North Ward, Cllr Michael Williams clarifies.

Providing an update on the matter, a member of Pembrokeshire County Council’s development area Team for planning support stated: “Amended plans have now been received for this application and are currently with key consultees for review and comment.

“I have recently received draft advice from the retail consultant acting on behalf of the planning department. This advice will be shared with the applicant, together with a request for further updates to the retail information submitted in support of the application.

“Once the updated retail information has been received, I will arrange a further round of consultation and undertake updated publicity to ensure all interested parties have an opportunity to review and comment on the revised material.

“The committee report will be prepared following the close of the consultation period and once all relevant representations have been considered,” they added.

A spokesperson for Lidl UK stated earlier this year: "Lidl GB is committed to delivering a new store for Tenby, New Hedges and the surrounding area, bringing much-needed, affordable shopping choice while creating new jobs.

"When Lidl launched its proposals late last year, the store gained wide-scale community support, with 90 per cent of over 2,500 residents being supportive.

“Demand for our affordable, high-quality products continues to grow in the Tenby area, and we thank local residents for their ongoing support and patience while we liaise with the council.”

Draft proposals for the application were initially submitted back in 2024, with public consultations on the scheme seeing a drop-in event held at the De Valence Pavillion venue in Tenby; and then a follow-up community event held at New Hedges Village Hall, close to the proposed site.

Local community council St Mary Out Liberty (New Hedges) Community Council had previoulsy formally objected to the plans, saying that, while it supports the scheme for a Lidl store in principle, recognising “the economic benefits a new retail store could bring,” it says the proposed location “is unsuitable, conflicts with planning policy, and cannot be supported in its current form”.

Its objections added: “The A478 is heavily congested in peak tourist months. A supermarket would worsen congestion, increase turning movements, and heighten risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency access.”

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Highways department, recently made the following comments on the plans: “Having considered the additional information alongside the findings of the Transport Assessment, the County Highway Authority is satisfied that the proposal would not result in a material adverse impact on the surrounding highway network.

“The proposed pedestrian and cycle infrastructure improvements, together with the potential for trips to be made by sustainable modes and for existing longer-distance retail trips to be shortened, provide additional transport benefits.”

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Natural Resources Wales also have raised no objections to the proposals, stating: “Whilst the development may reduce the pastoral and agricultural character in the setting of the National Park and introduce new development into the visual setting of this popular tourist route particularly in the short term, the effects are localised and unlikely to have a significant impact on the special qualities and visual amenity of the National Park.”